SoB BOOKBINDING COMPETITION: 2001
THE WINNING BINDINGS: choose a category to view...
Fine Binding Complete Book Cased Binding
Restored/Conserved Binding
The prizewinning and highly commended bindings will be on exhibition at:
The Piction Library, Liverpool: 23rd July - 12th August.
George Bayntun's Bookshop, Manvers Street, Bath: 14th - 30th August (inclusive).
The Barbican Library, London: 1st - 29th September.
COMPETITION REPORT - by J. Brian Edwards, Competition Organizer
It is once again my pleasure to present, on behalf of the judges, this year's Competition Report.
This year's competition attracted thirty-nine bindings from thirty-three entrants. Of these, two were from the USA and one from Australia.
I’m sure that those of you who have had the opportunity to see the display of entries will agree that there are many fine examples of good design and skill on show.
The four categories of entry were:
Fine Binding - with the first prize winner to receive the John Coleman Perpetual Award. Thirteen bindings were entered.
Complete Book - with the first prize winner to receive The Portnall Award. Ten bindings were entered.
Cased Binding - with the first prize winner to receive the F J Ratchford Trophy. Nine bindings were entered.
Restored/Conserved Binding - with the first prize winner to receive the Bernard Middleton MBE Trophy. Seven bindings were entered.
The judges this year were all well established figures in the world of bookbinding; James Brockman, who, as the Society's new President, needs no further introduction, Trevor Lloyd, who runs his own business in Knighton on the Mid Welsh border and worked earlier in his career at Sangorski & Sutcliffe, and Ivor Stone, who worked with the late Roger Powell, in Hampshire and is now the general manager of Cedric Chivers, the long-established bookbinding company near Bath.
On the last Saturday in June they met and spent some seven hours carefully and closely scrutinising each entry and, at the end of a long day, unanimously agreed on the winning entries. During the final Moderation session they also made recommendations for the awarding of some Highly Commended Certificates.
Nine entrants were awarded prizes - an extra third prize being requested by the judges for the Fine Binding Category. Thanks to the financial support received from the SoB National Council it was possible this year to increase the prize money to be awarded. Sadly it was only possible to award three of the four trophies as, once again, the quality of entries in the Restored/Conserved Category did not reach the standards of skill and craftsmanship which the judges were looking for. It was therefore decided that a single award of ‘Best binding in Category’ should be made and that the newly created Bernard Middleton MBE Trophy would not be presented this year. To give an indication of the standard of skill and craftsmanship to which entrants in this category should aspire, Bernard Middleton kindly loaned some examples of his work, which were displayed, alongside the trophy bearing his name, throughout the period of the conference. It is hoped that the Society can develop a strategy to provide opportunities for binders to advance their knowledge and skill in this most important area of work and thereby raise the standards and the numbers of entries in this category, by the time of the next competition in 2003.
The Society has commissioned a new trophy for the best binding in the Fine Binding Category, in the name of the founding President of the Society, this will be known as the 'John Coleman Perpetual Award’. We are also indebted to the Portnall family of Bath for the Portnall Award, which from this year will be given to the winning binding in the Complete Book Category. The late Bill & Aidan Portnall (father and son) were both talented binders in Bath and Bill, a great friend of John Coleman, was the founding Chairman of the West Region.
I should like to take this opportunity to offer my thanks to the many sponsors who have once again responded to my requests for the financial support, without which the competition could not happen.
I should also like to thank all the entrants for the hard work which they have put into producing the bindings, and in particular I should like to thank the three judges who gave unstintingly of their time to closely examine, debate and deliver their decisions on the prize winning entries. Thanks are also due to the people who organized the display arrangements at Homerton College.
Finally, as this is to be my last competition as Organizer, I should like to thank everyone who has helped over recent years with these events; the sponsors, the suppliers of materials given as prizes, and, in particular, the support I have received from the National Officers of the Society during my tenure.
THE JUDGES’ COMMENTS
Jim Brockman considered that, overall, the majority of the bindings had considerable charm and appeal, stating that he genuinely felt that there were several books he would be pleased to take home with him. However, he also said that his recurring impression was that nearly all the entrants had tried to produce work which, in most cases, was beyond their craft skills and, in some cases, virtually impossible to achieve, even for a highly skilled professional binder. It was also clear to him that several entrants had submitted their work in the wrong category. Consequently, it was agreed that the Competition Organizer would look again at the wording used to describe each category to see if the criteria could be made even clearer to prospective entrants. Jim also echoed the concern about the quality of the work in the Restored/Conserved category and suggested that the entrants (and, indeed, future entrants) should spend some time carefully undertaking a 'wash and brush-up' of their work, to show their bindings in the best possible light
Trevor Lloyd was impressed by the overall standard of work, which reflected the great deal of time and effort put in by the participants. He also felt that they should be more aware of good working practices coupled with a sound understanding of "bench skills". He believed that some design and restoration work could have been compromised by the lack of technical application. He stated that, "we all need to be aware of the factors which constitute high standards in bookbinding and that part of the planning for a project should include some thorough research and observation of fine, contemporary and historical binding". He was very impressed by the refreshing innovative and creative works, which often showed boundless enthusiasm and a genuine love for the craft. He finished by saying that he had considered it a privilege to be invited to give his comments and wished to take the opportunity to offer his congratulations to all the entrants.
Ivor Stone was impressed by the number of entries and the amount of work which clearly went into producing the range of bindings which were entered into the competition. He felt that in the Fine Binding Category, although the winning entry was very clearly, “on its own” in quality, the runner up award had proved a “close contest” between three bindings. This is the reason why the judges asked for an exceptional Third Prize to be awarded this year. Like the other two judges, he was concerned about the level of craft skill in the Restored/Conserved Category, although he found the Complete Book Category the most difficult to judge. However, the winning entry was clearly the very best. As a judge of this competition for the first time he had found the experience both interesting and thoroughly rewarding.
Top of page